CYPRESS APHID (CINARA-CUPRESSI) DAMAGE TO A CYPRESS (CUPRESSUS-LUSITANICA) STAND IN KENYA

A stand of Cupressus lusitanica, planted in Kenya in 1927, was monitor ed during 1992 and 1993 to assess damage caused by Cinara cupressi (Ho moptera: Aphididae), a pest first reported in the country in 1990. Dam age for each of the 603 trees was scored on a five point scale on six occasions. The mean damage score for the stand decreased during the st udy. Some trees showed little or no damage throughout the study, many trees showed partial or total recovery, while some trees never recover ed and died. At the last assessment 12% of the trees were dead. The da ta indicate the need for careful monitoring of stands before a decisio n to clear fell is made, particularly as some trees initially in the h ighest damage category were observed to recover. These observations sh ould be repeated in younger trees and in different areas.